“No more testimony, no more rallies, no more time wasted.”
“Your Honour, please…”
“Do not insult this court, Mr Kennedy.”
“Your Honour!” My voice thunders through the courtroom, drawing the attention of everyone present.
It’s now or never, I tell myself.
Either I win it all or I lose it all.
I adjust my bow tie, the one Seth gave me for my birthday, before turning to face him and the kids behind him.
“I’m in love.”
In the courtroom, a general exclamation of astonishment almost brings me to my knees.
“I am in love with these kids. I love them more than I probably should, and certainly less than they deserve. They have become my everyday life and my sleepless nights. They have become the reason I smile in the morning, and they have become the reason I believe in people again.”
Seth’s eyes fill with tears.
“And I believe this man. I believe him when he says he loves his children, and I believe him when he says they deserve better than him; I believe him when he says he’s doing his best, I believe him when he says he’s sorry for what happened in the past, I believe him when he says he's a different man today, and… When he says… That he would do anything for them. Your Honour, there is no finer man in the world than Seth Graham. More honest, more sincere. More selfless. There is no man on Earth who could love these children as much as he does. And I’m sure he’s going to mess up, and he’s going to make mistakes, but I’m also sure he’s going to make the best of them, because that’s what Seth Graham does. He makes everything better. Colourful. Alive. And so damn beautiful. And I am willing to vouch for him and help him in any way I can. If he wants it. If he wants me.”
“Are you telling me that you are part of this family again, Mr Kennedy?”
“Only if they want me to be, Your Honour.” I look at Seth. “Only if you want me.”
Seth doesn’t wipe away his tears. He lets them flow, as real as he is.
“I’m asking you to entrust the kids to us,” I say from the bottom of my heart.
“Why?” The question comes straight from Seth’s lips. Those lips that I had hoped to not seek with all my might, but that have become my refuge and my home.
“Because you can’t live without them, and I… I can no longer live without you.”
“You don’t want to believe this performance, Your Honour!” One of the lawyers stands up.
“You’re not going to tell me what to believe, lawyer. Sit down.”
“Your Honour, please give this family a chance.”
The judge watches me carefully for a few moments.
“You must really care about this case.”
“This is not a case, Your Honour.”
He nods slowly, then picks up his gavel and raises it.
“This Court finds in favour of Mr Graham. The children will be placed in the care of their uncle, Seth Graham, and his partner, Rowan Kennedy. This Court reserves the right to determine the terms of the care and to review the family’s situation on a monthly basis for a period of one year, after which Mr Graham and Mr Kennedy may, if they so wish, apply for permanent care and thereafter adopt the children.”
“Oh my God, oh my God!” Seth stands up and turns to face the kids.
“This Court wishes you the best of luck, Mr Kennedy.”
“Thank you, Your Honour.”
“And… Mr Graham?”
